Autumn is such a lovely time to slow down, get outside and explore the world with your little one. As the leaves begin to change colour and the days gradually get cooler, there are so many simple opportunities for play and learning all around us.
And the best part? You don’t need lots of equipment, complicated crafts or hours of preparation.
Here are 10 easy, screen-free autumn activities to enjoy with your toddler or preschooler this season.
1. Go on an Autumn Scavenger Hunt 🍁
Head outside and see what autumn treasures you can discover together.
Look for colourful leaves, pinecones, sticks, acorns, berries or anything else that catches your child’s eye. Talk about the colours, shapes, textures and sizes you find along the way.
Learning through play: Observation, language, early science and vocabulary.
And if you’d like a little help getting started, I’ve created a free Autumn/Fall Scavenger Hunt that you can take with you on your next outdoor adventure.
Download your free Autumn/Fall Scavenger Hunt here
2. Collect and Sort Leaves 🍂
Collect a handful of fallen leaves and bring them home for some simple sorting.
Can your child put the leaves into groups by colour? What about size or shape? You could even arrange them from smallest to biggest.
There’s no right or wrong way to do it – let your child decide how they would like to sort their collection.
Learning through play: Early maths, sorting, comparing and describing.
3. Make Leaf Prints 🌿
Turn some of your autumn finds into a simple art activity.
Place a little paint onto a leaf and gently press it onto paper. Try different leaves and colours and see what patterns you can create.
You could also look closely at the leaf before printing it. Can your child spot the veins? How does each leaf look different?
Learning through play: Creativity, fine motor skills, observation and exploring patterns.
4. Investigate an Apple 🍎
Grab an apple and turn snack time into a little investigation.
Before eating it, ask your child what they notice. What colour is it? Is it smooth or bumpy? What does it smell like?
Cut it open together and look inside. Can you find the seeds? How many are there? What do you think they are for?
Then, of course, enjoy eating it!
Learning through play: Science, language, counting and sensory exploration.
5. Create an Autumn Treasure Basket 🌰
Collect a selection of safe autumn objects such as leaves, pinecones, sticks and large conkers and place them in a basket.
Let your little one explore them freely.
Encourage them to touch, smell and look closely at each object. You could talk about which objects are rough, smooth, hard, soft, big or small.
Learning through play: Sensory exploration, language, vocabulary and observation.
Always supervise young children closely when exploring natural objects and choose age-appropriate items.
6. Make a Little Woodland World 🐿️
Use your autumn treasures to create a miniature woodland scene.
Add leaves, sticks and pinecones to a tray or a suitable outdoor space, then introduce some toy woodland animals.
What could you build for the animals? Where might they sleep? What could they eat? Can your child make a home for a squirrel or a little hedgehog?
Let their imagination take over.
Learning through play: Imagination, storytelling, language and problem-solving.
7. Go Cloud Watching ☁️
Sometimes the simplest activities are the loveliest.
Find a cosy spot outside, lie back and look up at the sky together. What shapes can you see in the clouds?
Maybe you can see an animal, a face or something completely unexpected!
There are no rules here – just time to chat, imagine and wonder.
Learning through play: Imagination, communication, vocabulary and observation.
8. Put on Your Wellies and Go Puddle Exploring 💦
When the rain arrives, don’t automatically head indoors!
Put on your wellies and explore those puddles together.
Which puddle is the biggest? Which is the smallest? What happens when you jump in? Can you make a tiny splash and then a really big one?
You could even collect a few natural objects and see whether they float or sink in a puddle or container of water.
Learning through play: Early science, maths, movement and sensory exploration.
9. Go on an Autumn Colour Hunt 🍁
Choose a few autumn colours and head outside to see what you can find.
Can you find something red, yellow, orange, brown or green?
Look at leaves, flowers, trees, berries, signs and anything else around you. You might be surprised by how many different colours you discover.
Learning through play: Colour recognition, observation, vocabulary and early categorisation.
10. Explore a Pumpkin 🎃
When pumpkins begin appearing, choose one to investigate together.
What does it feel like? Is it heavy? What colour is it? Can you describe its shape?
Cut it open and explore what is inside. Look at the seeds, the flesh and the texture. You could count the seeds, scoop them out or simply enjoy getting messy!
Learning through play: Sensory exploration, science, counting and language.
🍂 Keep autumn simple
You don’t need to fill every day with elaborate activities.
A walk through the park, a handful of leaves, a puddle after the rain or an apple at snack time can all become opportunities to explore, talk, wonder and learn together.
The world really is your child’s classroom.
So this autumn, slow down when you can, follow your little one’s curiosity and make the most of those simple moments together.
🔎 Ready for an autumn adventure?
Why not start with a simple scavenger hunt?
I’ve created a free Autumn/Fall Scavenger Hunt to help your little explorer look closely at the world around them and discover some of the wonderful sights, colours and treasures that autumn has to offer.
Leave a Reply